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CHARITY (16)

 

Charity…Endureth All Things

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   When individuals state their marriage vows, they promise to remain husband and wife:

1.    In good times and in bad times.

In sickness and in health.

On the mountains and in the valleys.

In prosperity and adversity.

In darkness and in light.

2.    What they are saying is:  Our love will “endure all things.”

 

B.   This is the fifteenth quality of love that Paul mentions in this text on love.

 

C.   Let’s look at what it means to say:  “Charity…Endureth All Things.

1.    We will define the quality.

2.    We will set forth some Bible examples of those whose love “endured all things.”

3.    We will make some application to our lives.

 

I.             THE DEFINITION OF ENDURETH ALL THINGS

 

A.   Strong (5278):

1.    To stay under (behind), that is remain…to bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere

2.    :-  abide, endure, (take) patient(ly), suffer, tarry behind

 

B.   Thayer: to remain, tarry behind, to remain, i.e., not recede or flee, to endure, bear bravely and calmly:  ill treatments

 

C.   Vine:  to abide under, to bear up courageously

 

D.   “Bear up under, sustains, does not complain” (e-sword, Barnes).

 

E.   “Perseveres.  Carries on like a stout-hearted soldier” (e-sword, Robertson).

 

F.   Holding its ground when it can no longer believe nor hope” (e-sword, Vincent).

 

G.   “The word Paul uses here was a military term, used of an army’s holding a vital position at all cost” (Jeremiah, 105).

 

H.   “The word endurance, in fact, is Irish in origin and literally means “oak wood’ – one of the strongest and most enduring timbers” (Parrott, 85).

 

Image result for mighty oak

 

I.     Illustrations:

1.    A warden with a psychotic inmate

2.    A nurse with a delirious patient

3.    A lifeguard with a drowning victim

 

J.    Versions:

1.    KJV:  endureth all things

2.    ASV:  endureth all things

3.    NKJV:  endures all things

4.    NASV:  endures all things

5.    ESV:  endures all things

6.    NIV:  always perseveres

7.    NLT:  endures through every circumstance

8.    Phillips:  it can outlast anything

9.    MGS:  never looks back

 

II.           BIBLE EXAMPLES OF ENDURETH ALL THINGS

 

A.   Jesus endured all things with His disciples.

1.    Peter denied him three times (Matt. 26:69-75).

2.    All the disciples forsook Him and fled in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:56).

3.    They did not believe the reports of His resurrection (Mark 16:9-10)

4.    Even though Jesus suffered these things, His love endured.

 

B.   Jesus endured all things with those in the world, especially around the hours of the crucifixion.

1.    There were false accusations by the Jews.

2.    There were the stripes by the Romans soldiers.

3.    There were the horrible wounds made by the nails.

4.    There were the blasphemous statements of the mobs.

5.    There were the insults by the two thieves.

6.    In spite of all this, Jesus continued to love.

 

C.   Moses showed his love to Israel as he endured all things by their hands.

1.    Complaints about hardships (Num. 11:1)

2.    Complaints about lack of meat (Num. 11:4)

3.    Complaints about the impossibility of taking the Promised Land (Num. 14:1-4)

4.    Complaints about Moses’ authority (Num. 16:3)

5.    The rebellion of Korah (Num. 16:41)

6.    Complaints about lack of water (Num. 20:2-3)

7.    Complaints about having been brought into the wilderness (Num. 21:5)

8.    Through all this, and more, Moses loved his people.

 

D.   Abigail loved her husband and endured all things in their relationship Nabal.

1.    She put up with a man who was churlish and evil in his doings (I Sam. 25:3).

2.    She protected him from the angry David who was about to bring death to his entire house (I Sam. 25:23-31).

 

E.   Paul endured all things with the churches that he established.

1.    Some forsook the truth.

2.    Some gave heed to false teachers, even those who denied Paul apostleship.

3.    Paul continued to love them.

III.         APPLICATION OF ENDURETH ALL THINGS

 

A.   “…refers to its attitude when it received what is not due to it, that is, ill-treatment” (Scroggie, 32).

 

B.   Bears up under all persecutions at the hands of men; all efforts to injure the person, property, or reputation.

 

C.   Bears up under all persecution…and never says of any trial, affliction, or insult, this cannot be endured.

 

D.   It is more than surviving and holding on.  “It calls for courage to conquer whatever may keep us from moving forward” (Parrott, 85).

 

E.   Those who will be loved, as love endures all things.

1.    The lost who do not respond favorably to the gospel of Christ.

a.    Even though Paul was treated horribly by the Jews, he continued to desire their salvation (Rom. 10:1).

b.    …for it will come to pass that some whom you have been seeking for a long time will grow worse instead of better.  Endure this among the all things.  Those whom you seek to bless may seem to be altogether unteachable, they may shut their ears and refuse to hear you; never mind, endure all things.  They may grow sour and sullen, and revile in their anger, but be not put out by them, let them struggle till they are wearied, and meanwhile do you patiently wait, saying to yourself, ‘I must save them” (http://www.romans45.org/spurgeon/sermons/1617.htm).

2.    Loving our enemies

3.    Loving our angry brethren

4.    Difficult marriages

5.    Rebellious children

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   “When love has no evidence, it believes the best.  When evidence is adverse, it hopes for the best.  And when hopes are repeatedly disappointed, it just courageously waits and endures” (Jeremiah, 106).

 

B.   Perhaps this is the most difficult component of loving others.  It is not easy to endure afflictions and continue to love.  This is especially true over a long period of time.